The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the most capable and iconic off-road SUVs of all time, but its price tag and aging configuration drove customers to other models in the years before its U.S. demise in 2021. However, Toyota continued making and selling the SUV in other countries, overhauling the model in those places alongside its Lexus counterpart, the LX. Fast forward three years and the Land Cruiser is returning to the United States in 2024, though with some changes that Toyota hopes make it more palatable to SUV buyers.
Toyota will offer the 2024 Land Cruiser in three configurations: Land Cruiser 1958, Land Cruiser, and First Edition. The beefy V8 powertrain from previous model years is gone. In its place, Toyota equips an i-Force Max turbocharged 4-cylinder powertrain. The automaker also addresses the Land Cruiser's infotainment and tech, giving it the modern interface it so notably lacked before. It also gets a full suite of standard advanced driver aids and rides on an updated body-on-frame platform that Toyota says is more rigid and stable than the previous SUV.
- Returns as an all-new SUV model in 2024
- Hybrid powertrain featuring a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
- First Edition trim will be available, limited to 5,000 units
- Pricing starts in the mid-$50,000 range—a significant drop from the previous generation
- The 2024 Land Cruiser goes on sale in the U.S. in the spring of 2024
The new Land Cruiser shares a platform with the Lexus GX and LX, Toyota Tundra, and other models. It's 4.4 inches narrower and 1.2 inches shorter than the previous version, which Toyota says gives it better approach, departure, and breakover angles. The 1958 trim features a prominent grille with the Toyota name spelled out. The mid-range standard Land Cruiser has slim headlights and sharper styling in the front.
The new Land Cruiser's interior gets a boost in the styling department, and it features a different look for each trim. The 1958 version gets black cloth upholstery and seating for five, while the standard Land Cruiser adds SofTex synthetic leather. The top First Edition trim gets leather seats, and buyers can add many higher-end interior features with the available premium package, which brings genuine leather, a digital rearview mirror, and a moonroof.
The previous Land Cruiser came exclusively with a V8 engine, but the tradeoff between performance and fuel economy was only worth it for some buyers. For the all-new 2024 Land Cruiser, Toyota equips a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and a 48-horsepower electric motor integrated into the 8-speed automatic transmission. Toyota pairs that combination with a 1.87-kWh battery for a combined output of 326 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque.
While the Land Cruiser has always been a competent off-roader, Toyota adds a suite of advanced tech to the new model to make it even more hardcore on the trails. The SUV has an electronic front stabilizer bar disconnect that operates with a button. It has a multi-terrain select drive system that works with high- and low-range 4-wheel drive. Toyota also offers a multi-view terrain camera system, tow hooks, and Rigid fog lamps. According to Toyota, the SUV's body shape and ground clearance give the Land Cruiser a 31-degree approach angle, a 22-degree departure angle, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Towing maxes out at 6,000 pounds.
The new Land Cruiser gets an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, while up-level configurations get a 12.3-inch display. A 14-speaker JBL stereo is available, along with a 4G LTE hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and more. Toyota equips a wireless phone charging pad in all 2024 Land Cruiser SUVs, and buyers can subscribe to its connected services plans for access to remote engine start and other functions. Toyota also equips hand rests and other thoughtful touches that the automaker says make the tech easier to see, reach, and use while bouncing around off-road.
The 2024 Land Cruiser will have plenty of competition when it arrives, though its lower price tag should help entice buyers. The Toyota 4Runner is a likely rival, and Toyota may give it a similar glow-up in the next couple of years. Buyers may also eye the Lexus LX as a higher-end off-roader, and there's always the Ford Bronco. The Jeep Wrangler is another logical alternative, but while it's getting a significant update for 2024, it likely won't offer the comfort and convenience of the Toyota.
Toyota is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of August 1, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Your Test Driver, and others.
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